This post is sponsored by Blinker; a new app for buying, selling, and refinancing cars in the US. Now available in Colorado, Texas, Florida and California. To download the app today: https://www.blinker.com/ ...and so it begins. I've unlocked a new parenting badge; teen driver! My son turned 15 last month and within a few days he had passed his road sign test and had his learners permit in hand. I'm still not sure how my baby is old enough to be behind the wheel of my car. We've only practiced driving a few times so far, but I'm sure this year is going to zoom by quicker than any year in the past. So far we've learned that I'm a much more patient teacher than my husband and that my Jeep Cherokee is easier to drive than my husband's Jeep Wrangler. We've also learned that driving over 30 mph and making turns into neighborhoods may take a little more practice! Right now we're sticking to back roads that are less traveled and during non-peak times of the day. I did try to ... [ Read More ]
Are you Green Enough? {Book Review & Tips}
Hint: There is no wrong answer here! You ARE enough and we can all make changes in our lives to be a little more green. About a week ago I received a book from a friend and fellow blogger, Leah Segedie. The book, Green Enough, will be available on Amazon starting March 20th. You can preorder it now! To shop my Amazon Affiliate Link: http://amzn.to/2HOCmAG Green Enough is available in hardcover and on Kindle. ...before you start rolling your eyes, I need to confess something. I am NOT the super "eco chic" that many of my followers once considered me to be. Way back in the days when I first started this blog it went by a different name, The Eco Chic. A few years ago I was struggling with identifying with that title any longer because I felt like I was more than just someone who wanted to write about eco-friendly living. I also realized that there was so much more to being a green influencer/blogger than recycling, cloth diapers and menstrual cups. Several years ago, the gr ... [ Read More ]
Florida Prepaid Enrollment Ends Today
This is it, your final day to enroll in the Florida Prepaid College Savings Plan for 2017-18. This post is in partnership with Florida Prepaid College Plans as part of their Starting is Believing campaign. All opinions are my own and may not reflect those of the company. What are you waiting for? There will never be a time when you have "enough" to do everything you want (or need) to do for your kids. Just like there isn't a perfect time to have kids; there isn't a perfect time to start saving for their college. So just do it! Plans start at as little as $47 a month. Five Ways to Save $47 a Month: Coffee! If you make a trip to the coffee shop every day of the month, skip that trip nine days and make coffee at home instead. At around $5 per trip, you'll have $45 extra each month to put towards a college plan instead. Pack a Lunch! I have one kid who packs lunch each day for school and one who prefers to buy school lunch. It adds up quick if they buy school lun ... [ Read More ]
Valspar Championship 2018
March is almost here! The temperatures here in Florida are breaking records and the pollen is already dusting the cars. My tulip bulbs have just started to bud and it's an official sign that Spring is almost here. That also means that the Valspar Championship is headed to Palm Harbor, FL for a week full of golf, entertainment, games, food trucks and music! We've slowly seen the course transform and prepare for the tournament over the past month. We visited the Innisbrook pool this weekend with friends and the Valspar tents are set up along the Copperhead course and ready for the players. I'll be attending their Executive Women's Day even and influencer day next week. Their Executive Women's Day is an event that hosts local women executives and speakers from around the globe to empower one another. It was a fascinating event to attend last year and I'm excited to have been invited back again this year. About the Valspar Championship: The tournament events begin March 5 ... [ Read More ]
Florida State Fair 2018 – Discover the Fun
This past weekend was a long weekend for our kids and we spent Saturday soaking in the sun at the Florida State Fair on behalf of Magic 94.9 (they provided us with media passes to the fair). It was the final weekend of the fair and I was sure it was going to be busy so we went early in the day to try and avoid some of those crowds. The morning was overcast and hazy but the sun broke through pretty quickly leaving us all with a slightly reddish glow to our noses and shoulders. While it was a little hotter than we expected, it was a perfect day to spend outside with the family. When we arrived to the Fair we were greeting my some helpful employees (or volunteers) who signed our kids up for the Safe Kids program. We had allowed our youngest to bring a friend with her so it felt extra safe knowing that there was a program in place to help us keep an eye on them. Each child gets a Safe Kids pin with your phone number on the back. If they are separate from you, they know where ... [ Read More ]
Florida Prepaid Enrollment Ends Soon + a Webinar
This post is in partnership with Florida Prepaid College Plans as part of their Starting is Believing campaign. All opinions are my own and may not reflect those of the company. The month is almost over and another open enrollment period with Florida Prepaid is coming to an end. The enrollment period will be closed again until the Fall so don't miss out on your chance to start saving for your child's future. The deadline to enroll is February 28th, 2018. So let's taco 'bout saving for college! Are you still confused? Not sure which plan to start with? Scared to take the first step and enroll? The team at Florida Prepaid are there to help you along the way with a webinar and Facebook Live Q & A session. Tuesday, February 20th you can join the Florida Prepaid team and Florida Prepaid advocate, Cristy Clavijo-Kish to learn how families have been using Florida Prepaid for over 25 years to send their children to college. Connect with a Florida mom who has Prepaid Plans for her ... [ Read More ]
February Painted Rock Challenge
I feel like I need a theme song for the Painted Rock Challenge!! Something that you can all chant while you wait for me to post the new challenge each month??? What would you recommend??? Without further ado.... I present to you.... The Original Painted Rock Challenge for February!!! It's February, so love is certainly in the air! I've also included some interesting themes that may be a little challenging or open to interpretation. My only request is that on President's Day (19th), PLEASE be kind to your fellow rockers.....even if they don't share the same political views and opinions as you!! Don't let the current political moods spoil the love that fills the rock community!! ...and with that, I step off my soapbox!! There are no rules in rock painting, so just have fun! If you decide to skip a day (or two), no one is grading you or kicking you out of the club. Life gets busy and many of us can’t complete the entire challenge, the ideas are just to keep you mo ... [ Read More ]
It’s a New Year, are you saving for college yet?
January is a great time to look at your spending and make plans for the future! This post is in partnership with Florida Prepaid College Plans as part of their Starting is Believing campaign. All opinions are my own and may not reflect those of the company. *Blink* another Christmas has passed and we're settling into the new year. It's a great time to assess where you are spending your money and making saving for the future a priority. Student loan debt is one of the biggest debts that Americans face. Student loans are now the #2 source of debt in America, behind mortgages! While the cost of goods always go up year after year, the cost of college has increased 538% since 1985. To put that into perspective, the cost of gas has only increased 200% in the same time frame. It's even more important for students to obtain their bachelor's degree too. The average student will make $23,700 more a year compared to the same person with just a high school diploma. I keep trying to ... [ Read More ]
January Painted Rock Challenge
Happy New Year!! Are you ringing in the New Year with the Painted Rock Challenge? Looking for a new hobby to start? Each month I post new daily rock painting ideas in a monthly calender to inspire your rock painting. Below you'll find 31 new themes or ideas to paint for January. There are no rules in rock painting, so just have fun! If you decide to skip a day (or two), no one is grading you or kicking you out of the club. Life gets busy and many of us can't complete the entire challenge, the ideas are just to keep you motivated and inspired. If you want to share your creations,the Painted Rock Challenge group is a fun place to share your rocks and get inspired by other rockers. It's a private group on Facebook and easy (and free) to join! January Painted Rock Challenge Ideas: About some of the special days on the calendar: January 1st - Rose Bowl!! Let's go Georgia Dawgs!!! January 2nd - Donate - It's National Blood Donor Month! January 4th - Cake - Have a sp ... [ Read More ]
Creative Last Minute Gift Ideas
...and the countdown to Christmas continues! Did you forget someone on your Christmas list? Still stumped on what to get someone? It's practically too late to order an actual gift from Amazon or any online store (unless you pay through the nose for shipping). This post is in partnership with Florida Prepaid College Plans as part of their Starting is Believing campaign. All opinions are my own and may not reflect those of the company. Creative Last Minute Gift Ideas Homemade Anything: I tend to be on the crafty DIY side and I truly enjoy making gifts for people. I don't have a ton of time to be crafty but I try to make at least a few gifts each year. This year my daughter and I made some homemade bath bombs! My first batch was a total fail, but second time is a charm! Bath bombs! Cross your fingers they stay firm and don’t crumble upon drying! #bathbombs A post shared by Calley Pate (@backtocalley) on Dec 17, 2017 at 10:11am PST Experiences: Let's admit it ... [ Read More ]
